Plasticity in Biological Organization

Alex Holehouse — alex.holehouse@wustl.edu

Thomas Boothby — Thomas.Boothby@uwyo.edu

Biological systems across multiple length-scales and timescales are united by a need to organize themselves in a manner that is both robust to noise and responsive to relevant perturbations. This idea of biological plasticity exists at the level of individual molecules and persists through multicellular organization and beyond. As a result, while many research groups are focused on specific questions that fall under this general umbrella, superficially these topics may seem unrelated, despite the fact they are fundamentally asking about analogous physical frameworks.

The Plasticity in Biological Organization Telluride Science Workshop will bring together a collection of world-class scientists working on questions surrounding plasticity and adaption in biological systems who would, under normal circumstances, never meet. This will involve scientists from theoretical models of cellular organization to organismal and cellular responses to environmental changes to the evolution of allosteric communication, body plan patterning, and the emergence of multicellularity. We feel that the small, intimate setting of a Telluride Science workshop will be the ideal environment for fostering deep discussion and collaboration between researchers exploring the diverse spaces under the umbrella of biological organization and plasticity.

We wish to ensure an intimate workshop setting, with no more than 20 to 25 participants. If you are interested in attending but have not received an invitation, please contact the workshop organizer before registering. Invitations are non-transferable.

Sessions typically run mornings and late afternoons, leaving mid-day free for informal collaboration.

Travel to Telluride can be expensive; please assess your own potential travel costs before registering.

Please book your travel plans! The Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) is the most reliable and convenient airport for Telluride.

Telluride Science can provide lodging starting as low as $215/night during off-peak weeks and as low as $250/night during peak-season at the Mountainside Inn. These affordable lodging options are limited and available first-come, first-serve. To encourage participants to secure affordable lodging, we offer a $100 discount on lodging provided through Telluride Science that is secured before the Early Bird deadline. Additionally, we work with many lodging providers in Telluride and Mountain Village to offer discounts between 10-15% off your total lodging balance. Additional information provided with registration.

If you have more questions about lodging, reach out to Sara at sara@telluridescience.org.

Registrations may be refunded less a $25 cancellation fee. If cancelled before the lodging cancellation deadline, lodging payments are refundable less a $100 cancellation fee. It is each participant's responsibility to confirm and understand their own lodging cancellation deadline. Travel insurance is highly recommended.